North Carolina basketball: Cameron Johnson one of top transfers

There was drama around Cameron Johnson transferring from Pitt to North Carolina basketball this summer, but it should be well worth it for the Tar Heels.

Johnson, a rangy, versatile guard, was pegged as one of the nation’s top transfers this season in an article on NCAA.com.

“Johnson was the prize of this year’s transfer list after a standout season at Pitt last year when he averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists,” wrote AnthonyChiusano. “He’ll now stay in the ACC with reigning national champ UNC, where he has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Johnson is listed at guard, but at 6-foot-8 and 210 pounds, he can easily slide into the small forward position left open by Justin Jackson. Like Jackson, Johnson is a dangerous shooter for his height, connecting on 41.7 percent of his 3-pointers last year.”

The article also labeled NC State transfer Al Freeman and Syracuse’s Geno Thorpe among the top transfers in the nation.

On Freeman: “Perhaps overshadowed by Johnathan Motley’s big time play and Ishmail Wainright’s consistency at Baylor, Freeman will now get a major opportunity at NC State to contribute as a graduate transfer. Freeman was a prolific shooter with the Bears, converting on 37.5 percent of his career 3-point attempts while shooting 42.5 percent overall from the field. Last season, he averaged 9.5 points and was a career-high 39.5 percent from deep.”

On Thorpe: “Syracuse lost three of their top four scorers from 2016-17 in Andrew White III, John Gillon and Tyler Lydon. Thorpe now joins a returning corps highlighted by rising sophomores Tyus Battle and Taurean Thompson. As that pair looks to step up as underclassmen, Thorpe gives the Orange a seasoned offensive threat that’s played in both the AAC and the Big Ten (Penn State; 2013-15).”